Summary

The article discusses the societal oversight of autistic adults and the harmful effects of infantilizing autism.

Abstract

The article titled "The Harm in Infantilizing Autism" addresses the widespread societal neglect of autistic adults, emphasizing that autism is often solely associated with children. The author, an autistic adult, points out that the public perception of autism is skewed towards a "poor autistic children myth," perpetuated by organizations for fundraising purposes. This narrow view leads to a lack of representation and support for autistic adults, who are as diverse and capable of ordinary life activities as anyone else. The author argues for the recognition of autistic adults' existence, the need for positive role models, and the importance of support policies to ensure a better future for all autistic individuals.

Opinions

The author expresses concern that people tend to view autistic individuals, like their child, as perpetual children, which is demeaning and overlooks their capabilities.
The author criticizes the public's and media's fixation on autistic children, ignoring the existence and needs of autistic adults.
The article highlights the misconception that autistic people are inherently innocent or angelic, which is a harmful stereotype that denies their full humanity and range of emotions and experiences.
The author points out that the "poor autistic children myth" is perpetuated by certain organizations for fundraising, which overshadows the reality of autistic adults.
The author emphasizes that autistic adults lead varied lives, with jobs, relationships, and personal interests, and should not be confined to stereotypes or expected to exhibit extraordinary abilities.
The article calls for greater visibility and support for autistic adults, including the development of policies that address their specific needs in society.
The author advocates for the inclusion of autistic adults in conversations about autism, suggesting that their perspectives are crucial for achieving true autism acceptance and ending discrimination and segregation.

The Harm in Infantilizing Autism

Almost no one remembers autistic adults exist

Image by the author based on a photo by rawpixel

It’s one of the main reasons I always think twice about revealing to someone my son is autistic.

Obviously, my first concern is they’ll discriminate against him. But the second is also quite troubling.

It worries me they’ll look at him as an Autistic Child.

The phrase, of course, seems innocuous. After all, my son is only twelve, although he is very tall and has even started to grow the shadow of a mustache.

The problem is, most people, once they learn about his diagnosis, immediately refer to him as an “angel” or “someone special.”

Some have told me children “like him” have a special kind of perception, cannot do any harm, and are just damn innocent. From then on, everything my son does is seen under a particular kind of lens, and cute comments are emitted in a childlike tone.

However, with this kindness, there also comes the immediate assumption that he is not as capable as his peers when it comes to “normal” life.

I know then that, for this individual, my son is not a person. He’s just a child with autism…and, for most of society, children with autism have no future.

A Quick Experiment

Try a quick experiment for me, would you?

Do a Google Image search with the word “Autism.” Scroll down, and tell me how many pictures of children you can find.

I’m not a psychic, but something tells me almost all of the images will be those of children, except, of course, for the therapist working with them. You see, for most, autism is a “children’s issue.”

I wonder…what exactly do they think happens to autistic kids when they grow up?

Turns out, they don’t disappear, nor do they remain as children forever.

I know this because I’m an autistic adult.

Even the phrase seems unusual, huh?

That’s right. Autistic adults exist. In fact, we are everywhere, and we do ordinary things such as have jobs, watch TV, get married, write articles, work out, and get laid.

That’s right. We like sex. In fact, some of us can be quite horny.

In a surprising turn of events, we grew up and discovered that no, we are not angels, and no, we are not that innocent either.

Guess what? We are human!

Although some of us require additional services or support, as we evolved, it became clear we were not trapped in a permanent child-like mind and body.

Not every autistic person you meet is a math wiz, has a photographic memory, or performs any other sort of party trick you may have heard of. With our humanity came a precious gift: the license to be as average as anybody else…and the right to become a grown-up.

An Elusive Creature

I suppose some people’s brains are short-circuiting right now. Really? Not all autistic people are kids?

However, this is not their fault. Rather, this comes from certain organizations that, year after year, perpetuate the poor autistic children myth.

This is a very useful myth because it makes it easier to collect funds and makes for good ads in which, of course, you’ll only get to see children. For most of mass media, the autistic adult is a creature more elusive than Big Foot.

What’s the harm?

I was fortunate not to be diagnosed as autistic when I was a child. Otherwise, I would have been pulled out of the regular classroom and sent to a “special” school.

Different aspects of my personality would have been deemed as pathologies. My interest in books would have labeled as an obsession. My quietness during class, a disturbing trait.

The only feature that got crushed out of me? My tendency to hum the music that lived in my head. “You’ll look like crazy if you keep doing that,” I was informed. Clearly, that was not acceptable.

And the main reason it was good I grew up not knowing I was autistic was that I got to live without the fear of never being normal. I got to receive an education and fight for new opportunities, just like the people I admired.

However, we’d probably come out with a blank if we tried to think of positive role models for autistic children. We’d have to Google and do some reading to find autistic adults who made it, which is ridiculous because there is plenty of us.

As I stated, we are everywhere. But are pushed to the sides because we don’t fit the current Autistic Child narrative.

Autistic adults need support.

We need to see more autistic adults. We need to use that phrase until it stops being weird to hear it.

And we need autistic children — and their parents — to know it is going to be okay. That autism didn’t come late one night to steal their kid’s soul. Rather, that it is a neurological condition that many individuals around the world share with them.

This is even more important for autistic people who need additional assistance. In many countries, since almost no one remembers autistic adults exist, there are no support policies in action, nor non-profit organizations fighting to help them ensure safe working and living conditions.

Final Thoughts

Infantilizing autism hurts everyone who is part of the equation:

Parents, who live with perpetual anguish for their children seemingly obscure future.
Autistic kids, who grow up without being exposed to proper representation.
Autistic adults who, since for some people don’t even exist, might not receive the support they require.

It is time to bring all autistic people into the conversation. After all, who better to provide new talking points than those who have survived the ableist judgment society still imposes on those who stray from “normalcy?”

Autistic men and women have a lot to say. The true harm comes from not listening. The quest toward autism acceptance won’t be complete until we admit there is a future for all autistic people, provided we quit it with the discrimination and segregation that prevail up to this day.